Game 3: Triangle Flight 36, Wilson Bulldogs 35

After a break for lunch, hydration and Mother's Day shopping (side note: if you don't have your cards yet, it's probably time to go get them), Triangle Flight reassembled at Word of God. The afternoon session started much more smoothly, as the doors were unlocked when the team arrived.

As the second seed in the three-team tournament, Flight had to play a rematch with the Wilson Bulldogs, the team they beat on a buzzer-beater earlier in the day. In that game, it was the Bulldogs that built a lead only to watch Triangle Flight battle back.

This time, it was reversed. Spurred by six first-half points from Keegan and five from Brady, Flight surged to a 17-12 lead at halftime. Some of that advantage was built at the free throw line, as a trio of Flight players--Gavin, Gabe and Brady--combined to hit five free throws in the first half, a total greater than the sum of the free throws made by the Flight in the first two games of the day.

But the Bulldogs trimmed the lead midway through the second half, and had the ball down by one point with a chance to win the game late. But staunch Triangle Flight defense from Brenner and help from his teammates on the tough lead Bulldog denied his first penetration into the lane, and time expired before the 'Dogs could attempt a second shot.

The one-point win was not the last game of the day. But for the purposes of this blog and for what should be purposes of history, the decisive loss in the championship game never happened.

Shot of the day: Kohl's late bucket turned out to be the game-winner, and Gabe's basket and foul late in the second half prompted perhaps the best reaction of the day from the Flight bench.

Big on the boards: Keegan and Isaac were formidable twin towers in the paint, as Keegan pulled down nine rebounds and Isaac grabbed eight. 

Defensive award: Brenner locked up the primary Bulldog ball-handler on the game's final possession. Gabe also threw himself on the floor in pursuit of a loose ball, forcing a jump ball against that same primary ball-handler with 3:07 remaining. 

Stat of the day: After struggling from the free throw line in the first two games (a combined 3-for-24), Triangle Flight recovered to hit 8 of 16 charity tosses in the first afternoon game.

Game 3 box score

                        1st     2nd      Total

Bulldogs           12      23         35

Flight                17      19         36

Field goal shooting

Bulldogs 17-42 (40.5%)

Flight: 14-37 (37.8%)

Free throw shooting

Bulldogs 1-6 (16.7%)

Flight 8-16 (50%)